Swiss Made in the Sixties, heavy platter sturdy and reliable mechanic also for a broadcast use. The tonearm is a 9 inch version, with the same geometry of the SME 3009, the counterweight is dinamically controlled by 2 springs. BBC mounted the Arm on the Thorens TD 124 The speed can be continuosly varied thanks to a clever conical axis. On the picture the same arm on a famous abum from the Status Quo (probabilly branded Goldring for certain Countries).
The SAEC is a double knife 10 inches tonearm, the precision in details and mechanical tolerances of such japanese jewel are sinply outstanding. The set up with a DENON DP1000 mechanic mountend on a JVC plint, makes this combination a classic of the 80’s. A Shure M97 cartridge set at 2,5 grams reading weight ensures a stable and clean bass spectrum reproduction.
The Micro Seiky direct drive DD 40 turntable was fitted with an arm based on the model MA 505, a S shaped high precision, low tolerances, tonearm totally hand made in Japan. The unique design of the arm made it possible to adjust the tracking weight and the antiskating whilst on playing. A tungsten wire connected to a spring is working as tensioner, moreover a simple and stable mechanism is controlling the VTA. The motor is held in a aluminium die cast structure encasted in a amazing Rosewood frame.
The famous “Filodiffusione Radio” designed by Achille Castiglioni for Brionvega is an iconic piece of Industrial Design . Realized in a glossy polished stainlesssteel diecast, has been transformed bymyself in I POd docking station. Is suplied with a T.Amp, Blue Tooth and Infrared technology. Brionvega wished to reproduce it following the design and advice of my prototype but the original moulds have been lost. (so I’ve been told by the CEO of the new Company). The design lamp is supposed to be Gae Aulenti design. High Gloss polished massive brass structure.
Claiming the Swiss Precision, the TD 150 followed the most popular idler wheel / belt TD 124. Very compact in dimensions but elegant with a real european walnut veneer frame, heavy 30 cm platter and freedom to install different tonearms, makes this gear a fantastic and simple combination. SME 3009 I and a classical Stanton 681 EEE fits very well in my unit , updated with a new motor and an external AC 16 Volts power supply. An High Gloss black Arcylic top finishes is completing the picture.
This is one of the most classical Vinyl set up from the very best British Hi Fi age. My 401, arrived safely with an original Garrard Box directly from the place where it was built and I’ve been told that the first owner was a passionate engineer working at BBC. This late versions has a 16 watt motor and it runs very smoothly. For a living room set up it stinks, but for an hi fi freak this smell is better than a Chanel #5. Technlogywise is more close to a tractor rather than a Quartz driven machine, it takes almost 20 minutes to reach the speed stability but this are the “core” ff the appeal of such professional and iconic tool of the best Era in the Audio World. Doing the plint by myself I have opted for the Skeleton Concept: 2 layers of Black MDF, coped with a Sorbothane mat in order to add mass avoiding internal vibration and eventual external feedback; easy and effective. This method allows also easy and painfree …
This is a fantastic find and a great surprise in terms of sound quality and peculiar construction techniques. Design is funny and clever, bended Plywood , cherry finishing adds warmth to the picture. After a good restoring for old capacitor and a quick check for the Tubes wear, contact cleanings, the tuner is supplying a smooth and not fatiguing sound with astonihing tuning stability thanks to the Variable Permeabilty technique rather than the most used capacitor.
